Sunday, 4 November 2007

Another Sunday Morning Stroll In The Wilderness

Well, I awoke this morning with that "Sunday" feeling.... that warm feeling of knowing that I don't have to go to work and there is a world out there. I looked at my alarm clock and it read 6.50am. It was still quite dark outside, but when I looked out the window I could see that it was misty again. Well, in fact it was more than mist today, it was think fog. It looked so inviting and the cool breeze coming through through the window smelt so fresh.

So, I dived into the shower, got dressed, picked up my camera and walking boots and jumped in the car. 20 minutes later I was in the middle of Savernake forest, an amazing forest with an abundance of stunning walks.

The atmosphere was eerie - nobody about, the mist slowly lifting, leaves falling, the breeze rustling the branches of the trees, birds breaking into their morning chorus, squirrels scurrying across the woodland floor, the occasional deer crunching through the undergrowth.

I made may way down one of the tracks with camera in hand, my breath visible in the cool morning air, the sound of my footsteps resonating through the trees. The perfect morning.....

Everywhere I looked, the trees were exploding with colour - full of browns, oranges, greens and silvers. The air was damp with the mist but the sun was beginning to burn its way through.

Each tree told a different story, branches knotted and tangled. The ground below my boots was covered in leaves. The rays of the sun beaming through the treetops.

Occasionally the path would take me deep into the darkness of the cover of the trees, but in the distance light shone through, guiding my way.

Cobwebs on fallen branches glistened with dew in the morning sunlight.

The forest path twisted and turned, as though it was purposely tryin to confuse me.

Each turn revealed a new scene, some haunting, some stunning, each and every one provided a mesmorising setting.

Whether I looked up, down or around, there was something new to experience.

My journey finally came to an end. I returned to my car, pulled off my boots, switched on the ignition and turned on the heater.

Another day, another walk, another memeory...

...until the next Sunday morning, with a journey in my car, camera in hand....

...I can't wait.

Bye for now

Graham Ettridge x

If you want to see more of my photos from the day, or from my other adventures, you can access my 'flickr' account my double clicking on any of the photos in the post. Feel free to leave a comment on any of the photos that you like (knowing what people like and don't lke in a photo will help me develop my photography skills).

54 comments:

Sadly i don't get to experience leaves turning colors, the majority of tree's here in texas are evergreens. Once in awhile i may drive by a creek where there are some but mostly we have blossoming tree's like crepe myrtles, pear tree's and the like in the spring. So i guess it all evens out.

Looks like you have lots of nice outdoorsy places to "stroll", i guess england is known for it's countryside isn't it?

I'm not one to enjoy much of the wilderness, but those photographs are beautiful. Exploring nature is a wonderful passion to have, and I'm glad that you are sharing it in the best way to everyone who visits your blog.

By the way, I have done the assignment for the meme I volunteered for. Thanks for making blogging so much more interesting for me :)

Oh wow! What a way to start the day! I love visiting your blog.Your photos are fantastic, I can almost see my own warm breath against the background of your cool misty morning pictures, they are so real.Stunning!Looking forward to you taking us out again next Sunday.Thankyou.:)

God bless you, you're a morning person. I definitely am not. Beautiful pictures however. Now I see all that I'm missing out on ;). You definitely have a talent with photography. I love how you caught the sun's rays shining bursting through the trees. God I love the turning of leaves.

Do you take beautiful pictures like these only when yousleepwalk(referring to your early start to the day) or it is another of those "Grahamish" skills that you keep unleashing upon us "blog entry in, blog entry out"?

Please keep unleashing them, it brightens up our days!

Magical place, great timing on your behalf, beautiful pictures all around... you are really spoiling us you know:)

Hi again Graham,Already been to your 'Flickr' site and seen all your photos there, they are great. You really can take excellent pictures.I look forward to your next Sunday outing and will check in when I get back.Bye for now.Loadsaluv Azzy.

Azzitizz, for once I am truly proud of my photos. But to be honest the scenery was so beautiful anybody could have taken photos like these at that time. It has certainly given me a special reason to look forward to Sunday mornings. I'm already trying to decide where to go next.

Hello Elise :) Yes, I agree - Wiltshire is an amazing place full of wonderful scenery and history (and of course, I'm here!!!!)

Daszzle, thanks for you r lovely comment. I am a morning person (the problem is, I am a night owl too - so end up being knackered all the time...oops!). The sun beaming through the mist was so emotional - at times I just stood there and savoured the moment. I am so glad I had my camera with me.

Hiya Zhu, and thanks for your kink comment on flickr. It is funny how some days you wake up and you know you need to be somewhere else. Well Sunday was one of those days. And I am so glad I went.

hi..everytime i come to this blog, there's always something new and amazing..!and you write well too, i felt like i was taking a walk in the woods myself. you have a very colorful world out there..in my place everything is almost all green..

Hey Grahem! Thank you for your lovely comment on my blog, i was just saying to Jack how nice it is to know that people are thinking about you.. one of the things i love about blogging.

Have just looked through your amazing photos, i especially like the one of the cobweb, i am amazed at how clear your photos come out!

I will try and post as often as possible with updates on the flat hunting! Ineke was saying how the whole 'welcome to my world'title has taken a whole different meaning in the last couple of weeks!! very true!!

Thanks for stopping by my blog and for not lurking because I love your blog!! I travel a lot and love pics - what I have seen here so far is beautiful. since I have some time off from my blog I will catch up!

Choc, thanks for all of your kind words and awards. I appreciate them all very much :)

Hey Jenny, I am lucky living where I do. There is so much wonderful countryside surrounding me. Thanks for visiting.

nicole, thank you for your kind words.

elay, you must absoultely go and take a walk in a forest near you , if you can. It is a wonderfully relaxing thing to do, to be so close to nature.

Max, thanks :) I have found myself often sitting in front of my laptop watching the slideshow. It is a great way to relax. I was so lucky when I went out that morning - the scenery was just perfect. Everything was perfect - a rare moment in time that I was able to capture through the lense of my camera.

Lorelai, thanks friend! The spiderweb was amazing to see in real life. It was like seeing one of those documentaries on TV. I'm glad it actually came out in the photo.

Mousie, thank you too. The great thing about blogging, is that you can share such special moments.

Hi Kasper, I love camping too. One can't beat being close to nature and waking up in the morning with the fresh smell of wet grass and a cool breeze...Mmmmmm heaven!

Hey Olga, I think I did actually walk into the Garden of Eden. The sounds, the sights, the smells... it was all like a surreal experience. I often have nice walks in nice locations, but this was something completely different.

Graham....that was a great photo directory...awesome...i was just waiting and waiting for more and more beauty....autumn is just beautiful isnt it....great camera...well i tried taking snaps and dint get them so well as u did...

I've just found your blog through Blogsweluv, and I'm so glad I did. You have created a wonderful blog and your photographs are absolutely stunning. I'll definitely be subscribing to your RSS. Keep up the good work!

I can NOT believe I missed this post! I was looking for your video on the forest - your walk in the rain to show a friend... and I found this instead and I am sitting here with tears in my eyes. This forest seen through your eyes is primordial and personifies England to me. England before the industrial age, England of long ago when there were forests like this one all over the land. I cannot believe the beauty you see here and are able to capture with your lens. These photos should be hung in a gallery.

You need to put together a portfolio and take them to some galleries OR contact some of the conservation groups in your area or in England and show them these photos. Even if you had to volunteer them at firest, it would get your art work out into the world....known. You also ought to enter some into National Geographic's MY SHOT. They are the best I have ever seen.

The beauty in this forest moves me to tears. It feels so ancient and speaks of another time on planet Earth, sadly a time we humans are destroying.

I also popped in to also say hi and wish you a REALLY REALLY REALLY good coming year. I wish that ALL the beautiful dreams in your heart are fulfilled and that the hunger you have for Life, never dies. Never let anyone or anything take that from you, Graham. It is your shinning gift to Life itself and to all those you meet.

Thank you for all your kindness, compassion, inspiration, joy, love, friendship and...just the magic that is YOU!

Graham, you're an excellent photographer! Love your photos - very beautiful!! I absolutely love the woods, there is no place on earth I'd rather be and you captured their essence and made me feel as if I were right there. Thanks for the virtual stroll thru the enchanted forrest. I truely enjoyed it. Until our next walk.....

very beautiful pics - you should make a calendar or something!Sadly i don't get to experience leaves turning colors, the majority of tree's here in texas are evergreens. Once in awhile i may drive by a creek where there are some but mostly we have blossoming tree's like crepe myrtles, pear tree's and the like in the spring. So i guess it all evens out.Looks like you have lots of nice outdoorsy places to "stroll", i guess england is known for it's countryside isn't it?

I was just reading about Savernake Forest and found your website. Thank you for sharing these lovely early morning pictures. I am doing an autumn woodland photo essay and you've given me the idea to visit Friston Forest early in the morning too. Please take a look at my website, which you'll find by clicking on my name.

Graham's Photobook....Through The Eyes Of A Dreamer

Who is Graham Ettridge?

Graham Ettridge is an Englishman with a curious and wandering soul. Born in Shakespeare’s birthplace town of Stratford Upon Avon in England during the early 1970’s, Graham then grew up in the wonderful county of Wiltshire in England. From here, he has developed a true passion for travel and photography.

The Author's Statement

“It all started with “Oh my goodness! I’m in my late 20’s, I’m single and I have done nothing with my life”. The realisation that hit me like a freight train one spring morning in 2002. My period of procrastination had to come to an end. So, whilst supping a beer in my local pub with a friend, we decided to go on an adventure – and within a few days had arranged a trek through the Sinai desert in Egypt – That’s how it started, and as any avid traveller will know, once you catch the travel bug it never goes away, it just gets stronger. Each time you cross one destination off the top of your list, you add another two to the bottom. The desire to experience new cultures; the want to meet new people; the need to learn more about yourself….it’s all just a footstep away.

“My camera has provided good company during my travels, enabling me to capture some of the special moments that I have experienced. Part of my passion with photography is to take an unusual view of the things around me. To open my eyes wider and to absorb the wonders of nature, architecture, people and objects that very often we take for granted.

“I am a novice photographer, but have an ambition to develop and enhance my technique whilst still trying to hold on to my raw appreciation of life.”